Plural socket



n. GORDON. PLUBAL SOCKET. APPLICATION FILED AUG.25| 1917- 1-,3 41,05 4. Patented my 25, 1920.

w WM I 561/ DAVID 'D. GORDON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PLURAL SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented irray Application filed August 25, 1912. Serial No. 188,090.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID D. Gounou, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of: Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Plural Sockets, of

which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric current conducting devices, and more particularly to what may be called plural sockets, by which I mean electrical connecting devices of such a character that more than one subcircuit may be connected through them to a main source. of supply.

In accordance with one form oi my invention I provide a unitary receptacle of such a character that a plurality of separate and distinct plugs, for instance, may be mounted therein in circuit completing condition.

I have selected as the particular form of illustration herein a plug end-ed plural socket and it is this particular form which I will now describe in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which" Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a plug ended plural socket con structed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof looking toward the interior or socket portion; Fig. 3 is a viewsiinilar to Fi v1 of a modified form of device;

Fig. 4 is a detail of construction used in the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 5 is a iew similar to that of Fig. 2 of a modified form of plural socket constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I show an insulating base 1 having a cylindrical extension 2 extending backwardly thereof, and a cylindrical lug 3 extending forwardly thereof. The insulating base is also provided with a cap section l. Within the insulating base 1 I mount a metallic cup 5 being screw threaded at its periphery. Thiscup 5 has the central hollow cylindrical stem 6 and being screw threaded as shown. This conducting cup 5 is connected by means of the conducting on tension 7 with the screw threaded shell El encircling the cylindrical portion 2. The cylindrical portion 2 is then tape: d as shown at 9 and surmounted by a me illic conducting plate 5.0. interiorly or the cup 5 1 then place an annular ring 11 oi insularing material, this ring beingheld in position. by the conducting ring 12, which in turn is held in position by the screws 13, 13, these screws passing through the bottom portion oi' the cup 5, but not engaging the same electrically. Suitable insulating material 1 1 may then be employed to insulate the heads oi the screws 13. The ring 12 lies on top .of' a conducting strip 15 which passes through the metallic extension 6 without engaging the same, and which then abuts the lug 3. A. screw 16 countersunk in the con tor contact 10 screw threadedly engages the plate 15 to further hold the same in position,

and also to provide a conducting extension from the center contact 10 to the center con tact l2 oi the plural socket. An insulating plug 17 provided which is screwed into position in the extension 6 to strengthen it. The cup l and the plug 17 are preferably provided with parallel surfaces 18 to guide coiuluctiug portions when they are inserted into this plural socket. The plug 17 may also preferably abut the conducting plate 15 which may serve as an additional stop for the limiting position thereof.

By referring more particularly to Fig. 2, it will be seen that there is thus an annular opening provided about the cylindrical extension 6 into which any number of plugs shown in dotted lines at 19 may be inserted. These plugs can be inserted at any portion about the periphery of the extension 6 and lay-engaging both the screw threaded portion 6 and the exterior screw threaded 'portion'of thecup 5 will be held securely in position with their center contacts engaging the conducting ring 12. As many plugs may be inserted as can be accommodated about the periphery of this extension 6. As will be apparent there is no given set portion which aplugmust occupy as it can occupy any desired position within the plural socket.

In Fig. 5, I show a structure similar to Fig. 2 with the exception that the socket is elongated, showing the elongated cup 4 and the elongated center contact 12; also the elongated outer contact 5. The width be tween the opposite sides of the cup 5 is just the customary widthto accommodate a plug. As many plugs can be inserted within the plural socket of Fig. 5 as room may be found for them when arranged side by side.

In Fig. 3 I show a modified tori of strucsertion in the plural socket having a screw threaded outer .contact can be readily screwed into position in connection with these ridges just the same as though a screw threaded receptacle portion .vere provided therefor.

From what has been thus described the nature of my invention will be readily clear to those skilled in the art.

Having however thus described means for carrying out my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A plural socket for electric circuits having a common receptacle portion adapted to directly receive the screw threaded portion of two or more screw threaded connecting plugs.

2. A plural socket for electric circuits having a common receptacle portion adapted to directly receive the screw threaded portion of two or more screw threaded connecting plugs, and having current conducting portions for the two sides of an electric circuit. a a

3. A plural socket for electric circuits having a common annular receptaclev portion adapted to directly receive the screw threaded portion of two or more screw threaded connecting plugs.

4. A plural socket for electric circuits having a common annular receptacle portlon adapted to directly receive the screw threaded portion of two or more screw threaded connecting plugs, and having current conducting portions for the two sides of an electric circuit.

'5. A plural socket for electric circuits havin a'common receptacle portion adapted to irectly receive the screw threaded portion of two or more screw threaded connecting plugs, and having current conducting portions for. the two sides of an electric the inner configuration of the receptacle portion.

6. A plural socket for electric circuits having a common annular receptacle portion adapted to directly receive the screw threaded portion of two or more screw threaded connecting plugs, and having current conducting portions for the two sides of an electric circuit, one of said current conducting portions conforming substantially in outline to the inner configuration of the receptacle portion.

7. A plural socket for electric circuits having a common flaring receptacle portion adapted to directly receive the screw threaded portion of two or more screw threaded connecting plugs.

8. A plural socket for electric circuits having a common flaring receptacle portion adapted to directly receive the screw threaded portion of two or more screw threaded connecting plugs, and having current conducting portions for the two sides of an electric circuit.

9. A plural socket for electric circuits having a common flaring receptacle portion adapted to directly receive two or more screw threaded connecting plugs, and having current conducting portions for the two sides of an electric circuit, one of said current conducting portions conforming substantially in outline to the inner configuration of the receptacle portion.

10. A pluraisocket for electric circuits adapted to directly receive two-conductor connecting plugs, comprising a main body portion having walls forming a slot at least .one wall of which is provided with a current carrying element. a second current carrying element in the slot, said slot being formed to receive by direct rotary insertion one or more two-conductor plugs, the outside of said plugs contacting with the current carrying element in the slot.

11. A plural socket for electric circuits adapted to directly receive screw threaded connecting plugs comprising a slotted main body element having a current carrying element forming at least one of the walls of the slot and shaped to receive the threaded portion of one or more screw threaded plugs at any point along the slot.

12. A plural socket for electric circuits adapted to directly receive screw threaded connecting plugs, comprising a slotted main body element, a-current carrying element forming one of the walls of the slot and shaped to directly receive the threaded portion of one or more screw threaded plugs in the slot, and a second current conducting element in the bottom of the slot for engagement with the plugs.

13.A plural socket forelectric circuits and a current conducting element between adapted tc directly receive screw threaded the Walls of the slot for engagement with connecting plugs, comprising a slotted main the plugs. 10 'body element, current carryin elements In Witness whereof I hereunto subscribe 5 forming the opposite walls of t e slot and my name this 20th day of August, A. D.,

shaped to directly receive the threaded por- 1917. tion of one or more screw threaded plugs, DAVIDD. GORDON. 

